Other Amarone suggestions

[west_end]

I am thinking of making an Amarone from a kit. Any suggestions on witch kit to get?


Thanks

 

[SouthernChemist]

Haven't done an Amarone kit myself, but I believe the CC Showcase Amarone is pretty popular. It comes with a larger 2.6 liter grape pack.

 

[Boatboy24]

Two favorites as far as what I've read on this site: 1) Cellar Craft Showcase and 2) RJ Spagnols En Primeur.

I just took my En Pirmeur out of my Vadai barrel two weeks ago. It's excellent, but still young (just going on 6 months now).

Showcase comes with a grape pack. En Primeur comes with dried grape skins and a raisin pack.

 

[geek]

Two favorites as far as what I've read on this site: 1) Cellar Craft Showcase and 2) RJ Spagnols En Primeur.

I just took my En Pirmeur out of my Vadai barrel two weeks ago. It's excellent, but still young (just going on 6 months now).

Showcase comes with a grape pack. En Primeur comes with dried grape skins and a raisin pack.

Jim, how do you like the dried grape skins versus the regular grape skins pack?

 

[eblasmn9]

I took my Cellar Craft Showcase out of the Vadai barrel a month ago. It's really good at 7 months old. I can't wait to see how this one ages. I also did the Winexpert Amarone with skins and the Mosti Mondiale renaissance Amarone. They are good but not near as good as the Cellar Craft. Funny thing is I had the En Premier in my cart during george's latest Christmas sale then I saw the En Premier Super Tuscan and couldn't resist. I still plan to do the En Premier at some point.

 

[joeswine]

Eblasm9

WHEN YOU DID THE WINE EXPERT KIT WITH SKINS DID YOU ADD THE RAISINS TO THE SECONDARY?

ALSO HOLD OFF ON THE CARAMEL PORT I'M WAITING TO SEE IF CHANGING THE PROFILE WORKS,ITS BETTER ALREADY BUT NOT QUIET.

 

[west_end]

Two favorites as far as what I've read on this site: 1) Cellar Craft Showcase and 2) RJ Spagnols En Primeur.

I just took my En Pirmeur out of my Vadai barrel two weeks ago. It's excellent, but still young (just going on 6 months now).

Showcase comes with a grape pack. En Primeur comes with dried grape skins and a raisin pack.

when you use the Vadai barrel do you make two kits at a time?

 

[tonyt]

Jim, how do you like the dried grape skins versus the regular grape skins pack?

I don't know about Jim but I love the "Genuwine Dried Grapes" from RJS. Conventional wisdom tells me that the wet packs should be better but every kit I have done with the dried grapes have been favorites.

 

[roger80465]

I don't know about Jim but I love the "Genuwine Dried Grapes" from RJS. Conventional wisdom tells me that the wet packs should be better but every kit I have done with the dried grapes have been favorites.

I have to second what Tony said. I'm glad to hear someone else say that in fact. I thought maybe I was weird or something.

I really like the dried packs. I like tannins and they seem to give more tannins than the wet packs. They are also much easier to handle than the wet packs.

Incidentally, that holds true for the Spagnols kits. I have not found that to be true for the Mosti Mondiale products. I'm not fond of their dried skins. OK let's be honest - don't much care for their wet skins either. Just one guy's opinion.

That doesn't mean I won't do kits with wet packs. Both are good INMHO - dried is a little better.

 

[ldmack3]

Winemaker Mag rated the CC Showcase as the top Amarone, for whatever it is worth.

 

[eblasmn9]

WHEN YOU DID THE WINE EXPERT KIT WITH SKINS DID YOU ADD THE RAISINS TO THE SECONDARY?

ALSO HOLD OFF ON THE CARAMEL PORT I'M WAITING TO SEE IF CHANGING THE PROFILE WORKS,ITS BETTER ALREADY BUT NOT QUIET.

Hi Joe. How are you? To be fair, I did the winexpert kit before I had the barrel and reading your thread on tweaking kits. It was done without any tweaks and the Cellar craft had every tweak I Know of: Changine yeast to Bm45 , 2.6 Liter grape pack, a pound of raisins in the secondary, 40 grams of untoasted american oak powder in the primary, running it three months in the Vadai. I need to do redo the Winexpert Amarone again with all the tweaks the Cellar craft had to compare the two. This is all for the sake of science.

I still haven't done the caramel port yet. I am thinking of starting it New years Day. I also have on deck the World Vineyard Sangiovese you did and will start it Christmas Day using your adjustments on it.

Have a good one, Joe.

 

[Boatboy24]

Jim, how do you like the dried grape skins versus the regular grape skins pack?

The jury is still out. I liked that the Amarone came with raisins. Directions called for using them in primary, but I put them in secondary, with just the skins in primary. I will say the dried skins are a lot easier to deal with than a grape pack.

 

[Boatboy24]

when you use the Vadai barrel do you make two kits at a time?

I have 23 liter barrels. Perfect size for kits.

 

[geek]

The jury is still out. I liked that the Amarone came with raisins. Directions called for using them in primary, but I put them in secondary, with just the skins in primary. I will say the dried skins are a lot easier to deal with than a grape pack.

So those EP kits not only bring a dried skins pack but also a raisins pack? What type of raisins, like standard raisins?

 

[Boatboy24]

So those EP kits not only bring a dried skins pack but also a raisins pack? What type of raisins, like standard raisins?

I think that's only in the Amarone. They seemed like "regular" raisins.

 

[west_end]

I think that's only in the Amarone. They seemed like "regular" raisins.

The way I understand it is what makes Amarone unique is that they partially dry the wine grape during the wine making process.

 

[geek]

I think that's only in the Amarone. They seemed like "regular" raisins.

how much raisins, is it like a 1lb bag, are they sulfited like the raisins we buy at the store?

 

[Boatboy24]

how much raisins, is it like a 1lb bag, are they sulfited like the raisins we buy at the store?

I don't recall exactly, but I think it was at least a pound. Maybe 1.5. I doubt they were sulphited. They were in an unlabeled, sealed foil bag.